May 04, 2011 |by Pamela MacNaughtan | 0 Comments

A View From Above

Experiencing the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime, and one of the best ways to experience the Canadian Rocky Mountains is by taking a helicopter tour.

Flying 7,000 ft (2,300m) above sea level is something I’ve done before, many times before. After all, I’m a traveler. I fly a lot. However there is a big difference between flying in a jumbo jet vs flying in a helicopter. Although a helicopter tour may sound frightening, I’m here to tell you that it’s not as bad as it sounds. In fact, it’s amazing!

As the bus left Banff for the Cline River Heliport, my excitement was palpable. I was going to climb into a helicopter, strap on a harness and fly amongst snow capped mountain peaks that are over 10,000 ft tall.

The cabin was small, but cozy. I was reluctant to wear my big earphones. I didn’t want to listen to the chatter of the other passengers, I wanted to immerse myself in my surroundings. The whurr of the helicopter blades were loud, but they didn’t deter me. I was in a helicopter, flying so close to mountain peaks that I felt as though I could reach out and touch them. I was in the middle of achieving a dream.

From time to time the wind would whip around us and the helicopter would lurch for a second or two, but I didn’t let it get to me. Instead, I looked out the window and soaked in the scenery. When I wasn’t drooling over the view outside my window, I was photographing it.

The helicopter curved around the mountain peaks, the Cline River snaked through the valley below us and the Abraham Lake greeted us in the distance. I was in the helicopter for 12 minutes, yet I felt as though I had been inside for much longer. As we made our way back to the heliport, I wished I could see more.

Flying so close to the mountains was one of the most amazing travel experiences I’ve had to date. In fact, I’m tempted to check out the Kananaskis Helicopter Tours later this summer.

What can I say, I’m addicted, and I’m pretty sure that after a helicopter tour of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you will be too.